C/A/M/P?

Create a Post
Jim Miller

Jim Miller

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Forum Donor
Founding Member
Joined
Nov 5, 1997
Posts
19,771
Loc
Suburban Central Ohio
Business
Miller
In the current "Preservation Framing" thread, the term C/A/M/P has been mentioned again. I think it first came up a year or so ago, when we were bantering about which term is best. As I recall, no consensus was reached then. Want to try again?

C/A/M/P might satisfy the perceptions of all the framers who visit here, but that's about as far as it goes. While it serves a limited purpose, nobody but a knowledgeable picture framer would have any idea what it means.

What we really need is a standard term consumers (and confused framers) can relate to; one that describes what C/A/M/P framing represents.

Dictionary definitions might be argued, but perceptions mean more than what the dictionaries say. What's your perception? What's your customer's perception? Do they always match?

C = Conservation. This term was stolen from conservators by framers years ago, and has become tainted by framers' misuse. Personally, I think we should leave the word to conservators. Picture framers who are qualified to do what conservators do are called conservators, not picture framers.

A = Archival. Exactly what is archival framing? It's an impressive term, but not very descriptive to most people. If it refers to the treatment of archived documents and such (which are displayed only occasionally and stored most of the time, or have extraordinary provisions we couldn't possibly provide) then most custom frames do not offer comparable protection.

M = Museum. Here's another impressive-sounding term that doesn't mean much. As pointed out by another Grumbler, some museums display abominable framing. Good museums display conservation framing -- that is, framing done by conservators. If the lesser framing in museums is called museum framing, I don't want to be associated with that.

P = Preservation. That's the term I favor. Almost everyone knows the word's ordinary definition, and "preservation framing" doesn't pretend to relate to the work of any group other than picture framers. The term isn't tainted (yet) and most consumers don't have a pre-conceived notion of what it means. We picture framers can rightfully claim "preservation framing" as our own term, and build consumers' accurate perception of it.

Which term do you prefer, and why?
 
Jim,

Although the term doesn't come up often, I prefer to use the P word. I came up with pretty much the same reasoning. Mostly I stress the fact that what I am doing in the framing of the art will not harm it. I find most customers aren't so concerned about terminology as they are the end product.

------------------
I have a 3' memory-put a post-it on me
 
Jim;
If I use any term it woiuld be Coserveation standards.I try not touse any BUZZ words but to explain what any of them do when the consummer does. I however disagree with the Prmiss that there are degrees to conservation standars .i feel that it does or it doesn't meet the highest standards. Notice I didn't say it prmanently protects the work.The reason is what frank tried to clarifie in his secod post. If there is ANYTHING in the Framing Package that might cause further deteriation of the art calling it by any of the C/A/M/P titles just confuses the issue.Furthermore while I can use all the income I can get I don't think bumping up the price of materials under the guise of doing the "ULTIMATE" work is helping the understandings of framing terms by the consummers.
In a recent seminar I attened the presenter said that by useing the Fancy names of the moulding styles impressed the client .To this i said that I wasn't interested in being impressive but I wanted to find the style that the client like most no matter what it was called. This is very similar to how I feel about techniques. I don't try to use Vaque ,Impressive terms but I try my best to use as simple of terms as i can in order to try to make sure that the client understands why we are doing what we are.
howevr I am sure there are those who (Like Frank feels) use the Most Impressive and Vague trems they can as long as it ups the price ,not caring what happens once the client pays for the work.
well now that I have stepped on all the toes I can I'll wait for Jim and Hugh and maybe Orton to correct my ideas.
Buddy
 
A concept and I term I find myself using a lot with my customers is that of reverseable framing (though the word sounds silly when I write it down. Sounds like I'm talking about framing that looks good inside-out.) We talk about not gluing, folding, cutting or otherwise mutilating their art, and using only materials that will not in themselves cause damage. Then we talk about minimizing environmental effects, such as sunlight. I keep examples of some awful framing so that they can see the outcome: photos stuck to the glass, brown stains from corrugated backing - things like that. It takes a little time, but it's time well spent.
 
I don't suspect that we are much different than most shops in our approach to whatever we want to call it framing, but we don't seem to spend a lot of time on explaining the differences between non-whatever you want to call it framing and traditional whatever you want to call it framing.

When someone brings in art that requires the full monty, we give it to them. We don't like to leave it up to them to select the correct glazing or matting or mounting. We are suppossed to know that upfront.I don't want them to feel that we are trying to justify any upselling (kind of like protective undercoating at the car dealer; if it's important why isn't included as part of the basic-why is it an option?)We just pull the rag mats out, we automatically select UV glazing (they get a choice of color and ng or clear), but that's about it. We hope the reason they brought their art to us is they think they can trust us. Not a lot of selling on the benefits of the product, that as stated, can be so confusing.

We do, however, spend a lot of time justifying the use of these archival products and the benefits of their use. We just call it employee training
 
Why not "protective framing" it a definition I hear used some times.
It is a good description of what a top quality framer does and it certainly allows for the qualification of different levels of protection that can be used.

Demot
ON THE EDGE Picture Framing
 
Did anyone catch the article in PFM on the degrees of framing quality?

------------------
Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.
 
When I'm selling a frame I use the terms "good frame", "really good frame", and "flash frame". Customers are able to simply relate to what I mean without excessive explanation, these terms are untainted by others and will probably never be tainted.
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)
 
Create a Post
Back
Top